Spinning (cycling)

History

The Spinning indoor cycling program was developed by South African endurance bicycle racer Jonathan Goldberg, in 1987. Early prototypes were targeted towards endurance athletes as a substitute for outdoor bicycle training.

The Johnny G Spinning Center was first opened in 1989, in Santa Monica, California. Later it was moved to Karen Voight Fitness in 1992 . In 1993, Goldberg and his business partner John Baudhuin launched the Spinning indoor cycling fitness program in Santa Monica, California. The first Spinning brand indoor cycling programs were held in Crunch gyms in New York.

In 1995, Spinning bikes would debut at a trade show as part of a deal Goldberg and Baudhuin made with the Schwinn Bicycle Company.

In 2003, Star Trac replaced Schwinn as the bike manufacturer for Spinning. In 2015, Mad Dogg Athletics partnered with Precor to create a new line of commercial Spinning bikes.

Possible generic term

Spinning has become a generic term in the United States, and a generic term can not function as a trademark. However, Mad Dogg Athletics has registered Spinning as a trademark on the Principal Register of the United States Patent and Trademark Office. A registration on the Principal Register does not create ownership rights under the laws of the United States, and a registration may be challenged and removed if the challenger proves as a matter of fact that the alleged trademark has become generic.

Mad Dogg Athletics continues to defend the Spinning trademark against its generic use and has recently expanded its focus and efforts on brand protection.

Based on the brand's widespread popularity, it has potentially become a generic term for indoor cycling in the Czech Republic. However, in November 2018, the General Court (European Union) upheld Mad Dogg's rights and found that the brand was not a generic term.

In February 2021, popular indoor cycling brand Peloton appealed to have the 20-year old trademark canceled, clamining the term Spinning had become a generic term. Just days before the trial, Peloton dropped its lawsuit for the removal of the 'spinning' trademark.

Related products

To protect its trademark for the term Spinning, Mad Dogg Athletics commonly refers to its products and services as the "SPINNING brand", "SPINNING indoor cycling", "SPINNING certification", and similar terms, not just "Spinning".

References

References

1. "SPINNING – the Proper Noun".
2. "Historical timeline".
3. Wed, Dec 29th 2010 06:43am-Mike Masnick. (2010-12-29). "'Spinning' Trademarked; Gyms Being Threatened For Holding Spinning Classes Sans License".
4. "USPTO TTABVUE. Proceeding Number 92076463".
5. Knowles, Tom. (2024-08-22). "Peloton tries to put a new spin on fitness bike trademark".
6. Pernille. (2018-07-01). "Inventor of Spinning Johnny G About the Modern Indoor Cycling Market".
7. "Why Spinning Went From Fitness Fad To Workout Staple".
8. "NCEF Studio Cycling".
9. (2005). "Bike for Life". Marlowe & Co..
10. "Historical timeline".
11. "Spinning Book 2014".
12. "The History of the Spinning".
13. "About Mad Dogg Athletics, Inc.".
14. (July 6, 1993). "Trademark Status & Document Retrieval: SPINNING". [[United States Patent and Trademark Office.
15. "15 U.S. Code § 1064 - Cancellation of registration".
16. "Mad Dogg and Zumba Focus Efforts and Money on Brand Protection".
17. "Spinning Trademark Under Attack [In Czech Republic]".
18. "EUROPEAN UNION: OHIM Cancels Registration for SPINNING".
19. "Mad Dogg Athletics v. EUIPO — Aerospinning Master Franchising (SPINNING)".
20. "Mad Dogg Athletics spins to victory at EU court".
21. "The General Court annuls EUIPO's decision revoking the rights of the proprietor of the EU trade mark SPINNING".
22. (2021-02-17). "Peloton Dominates Home Spinning But Rival Won’t Let It Say So". Bloomberg.com.
23. Caulfield, Christine. (2023-07-26). "Peloton resolves trade mark case against Mad Dogg on eve of trial".
24. "Is the Spinning® Brand Important?".
25. "A Spinning & Indoor Cycling Instructor Gets a Bit Hot Under the Collar...".
26. "Mad Dogg – Brands".
27. "Generic CrossFit Coming Soon…".
28. "Interview: How the CROSSFIT Trademark Avoids Genericide".